Classical Animation–Cel Painting

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will explore the art of classical animation by creating their own hand-painted animation cels. They will design and paint characters on transparent cels using acrylic paint, then overlay the cel onto a painted background to create a complete production cel. This hands-on activity will help students appreciate the history of animation and its foundational techniques.

Lesson Objectives

• Understand the fundamentals of classical cel animation and its historical significance.

• Create a unique character design and transfer it onto an animation cel.

• Use acrylic paints and proper techniques to ensure an opaque and professional finish.

• Combine a painted character cel with a background to complete an animation production cel.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Cel Painting Project

1. Idea Development

   • Brainstorm a character that complements an existing landscape painting or a background you plan to create.

   • Consider how the character’s position, scale, and style will fit into the overall scene.

2. Character Drawing

   • Sketch your character on paper.

   • Plan the placement of your character to align with the background.

   • Optional: Cut out the character sketch and test its placement over the background before moving to the next step.

3. Trace onto the Animation Cel

   • Place a cellulose acetate sheet over your character sketch.

   • Trace the outline using a black permanent marker.

   • Ensure clean, smooth lines for a professional look.

4. Paint the Cel

   • Flip the cel over so you are painting on the reverse side of the lines.

   • Use opaque acrylic paints to fill in your character.

   • Start with shadows and darker tones first, then layer lighter colors on top.

   • Clean and dry your brush thoroughly when switching colors to avoid smudging and to maintain thick, vibrant hues.

   • Allow each layer of paint to dry before adding new details.

5. Combine Cel with Background

   • Once the paint is fully dry, place the cel over a painted background.

   • Adjust the placement to ensure your character integrates seamlessly into the scene.

6. Optional Enhancements

   • Experiment with layering multiple cels to add complexity to your scene.

   • Photograph your final cel setup to preserve your work.

Key Terminology

Animation: A method of creating the illusion of movement by displaying a sequence of still images or objects.

Classical Animation: A traditional technique where each frame is hand-drawn and painted, dominating the industry before digital methods.

Cel: Short for cellulose acetate, a transparent sheet used in traditional animation for drawing and painting characters or objects.

Production Cel: A completed cel combined with a painted background, used in creating scenes for animated films or shows.